554 APPLICATION OF METHODS OF BACTERIOLOGY 



On meat-infusion agar-agar, neutral or slightly alkaline 

 to phenolphthalein, growth is very rapid at the body tem- 

 perature. The general character of the growth corresponds 

 to that of microspira comma. 



The growth on blood serum, after twenty-four hours at 

 body temperature, appears as a line of depression, which 

 increases as a track of liquefaction, and later results in the 

 more or less complete liquefaction of the medium. 



Bouillon becomes uniformly clouded in twenty-four hours 

 at the body temperature. Its reaction becomes more alkaline 

 as growth progresses. A pellicle, at first delicate, later 

 denser, always characterizes the growth in this medium. 



Usually no visible growth occurs on a potato. 



In fresh litmus-milk a slight degree of acidity is noticed 

 after twenty-four hours at body temperature. After forty- 

 eight hours this acidity is slightly greater, and at times the 

 milk shows evidences of coagulation, though not always. 



Microspira Schuylkilliensis is a facultative aerobe. In 

 fluid media under an atmosphere of carbon dioxide in sealed 

 tubes no growth is observed. 



The organism grows most luxuriantly at about 37.5 

 C. Growth is hardly perceptible at 10 C. It is destroyed 

 by an exposure of five minutes to 50 C. 



None of the carbohydrates are broken up with the libera- 

 tion of gas. 



It produces indol and at the same time reduces nitrates 

 to nitrites. 



The pathogenic properties of this organism are best seen 

 in guinea-pigs and pigeons, both of which are uniformly 

 susceptible. Rabbits and chickens resist relatively large 

 doses. Mice are infected with small doses injected 

 subcutaneously. 



